Veteran Plasterer still Capable at the Right Level

September 26, 2013 11:07:35 AM

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When he pulled up on his final start of last season, tailed-off in the John Smith’s Grand National at Aintree in April, many of his fans wondered if the admirable veteran, Forpadydeplasterer, would be seen in action again on a racecourse.

The winner of the two-mile Grade 1 Irish Independent Arkle Chase at the 2009 Cheltenham Festival has been a tremendous servant to trainer, Thomas Cooper, and his owners, the Goat Racing Syndicate, taking them to the major jumps racing festivals on both sides of the Irish Sea throughout the last five seasons.

His battle with Kalahari King in the Arkle Chase – which he won by just a short-head – is one of the most memorable moments from the career of the gelded son of Moscow Society. That result demonstrated just what a classy two-miler Cooper’s charge was, as he showed again 12 months later when runner-up to fellow Irish star, Big Zeb, in the Queen Mother Champion Chase.

For many people betting with betfair, it was puzzling to see Forpadydeplasterer being asked to tackle more than double the distance in the Grand National this spring at a point in his career when he is clearly not as good as he once was.

These days, the 11-year-old stays up to three miles, but he looked in need of the outing when ninth to White Star Line over that trip on his seasonal reappearance in the Guinness Kerry National Handicap Chase. Two days later (September 20), he was back again, this time over half a mile less, and ran a cracker in finishing second to Hidden Cyclone in the Southampton Goodwill Chase.

Clearly, there is life in the old horse yet, and whilst it is unlikely he will make a return visit to Aintree in April, there is surely at least one more race to be won with this endearing performer.